Barge/Boat Collision Leaves Two Dead in Ohio River

Two FBI employees were killed when their 19-foot pleasure boat slammed into a 600-foot barge on the Ohio River late Thursday night.

The boat reportedly crossed right in front of the barge between Cincinnati and Newport just before midnight.

The barge captain was at the wheel and saw the entire incident. He believes that the men just didn’t see the barge.

The men were found dead on the boat when fire crews arrived. They likely died on or close to impact.

As a precaution, first responders searched through the night to make sure no one from the pleasure craft fell into the water. No other victims have been found on the boat or in the river, but fire officials are still working to confirm exactly how many people were on the boat at the time of the crash.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard. It remains unclear if alcohol is a factor; there was no evidence of alcohol on the boat.

“We offer deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this incident,” said Capt. Richard Timme, Commander, Sector Ohio Valley. “The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.”

The Cincinnati division of the FBI released a statement early Friday: "It is with great sadness that we advise that two FBI employees were involved in a tragic accident late last night that claimed their lives. At this time, family members are still being notified."